Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "The Blessed Life" with part 4 in this Sunday service.
The Blessed Life Part 4
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, October 31, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
Sermon Notes:
The Blessed Life…
Generosity—our ‘Affluenza’ shot…
Romans 3:21 (Message) “Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.”
Matthew 6:24 (NKJV) “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
The Spirit of Mammon—Mammon as used in Matthew 6:24 is not properly translated when translated as “money”. Money is not evil—the love of money is. There is a spirit of mammon that seeks to control. It is a disease that is caught from thinking like unbelievers—Affluenza.
Symptoms of this disease are:
- Money becomes an answer rather than a tool which produces control issues and selfishness
- There is never enough money which produces worry and stress
- Money becomes our motivation rather than love which produces decreased influence, hurting relationships and broken hearts
- Success is measured by our bank account and our stuff rather than simply being in God’s will which produces bitterness, dissatisfaction, disillusionment and depression
- We become paranoid—thinking everyone is after our money producing cynicism and withdrawal
- Pride—the “self-made person” who needs nobody. “I started off with nothing and look what I have done.” Also (same coin different side) “I don’t need your charity.” This produces arrogance and a hard heart.
- Poverty—the “unworthy syndrome”—unable to graciously accept the blessing. “The only reason I have this car, house, shirt, watch, etc. is because I got such a good deal on it.” Also (same coin different side) “Just think about what good they could have done with that money.” This produces a false humility, coveting and a scarcity mindset.
Mammon seeks to make itself equal to God:
- “We either need a miracle from God or more money.”
- Mammon promises us those things only God can deliver: security, significance, identity, happiness, freedom, power and fulfillment.
- “If you had more money, you could help more people.” “If I can get rich, then I will give more to the church and God can help more people.” (God doesn’t need money to help people—he needs people to help people. If each Christian was just being faithful with what God has already given us the Church would have more than enough. In every city in our nation, the Church represents more influence and money than any other business or organization.)
The Antidote:
Mark 4:24 (Message) "Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way.
Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes."
Probable Side Effects: (head of a golden retriever)
Matthew 6:31-33—priorities find their rightful place when we ask God to change the way we think (Romans 12)
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Romans 14:17—righteousness, peace and joy becomes our standard of living and we make the necessary adjustments to our lifestyle to promote those. (TITHE=tenth, invest, today, household, entertainment)
(NKJV) “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Isaiah 32:8—stability unaffected by economic circumstances. The importance of a generous lifestyle—finding ways to give instead of focusing on ways to get. (NKJV) “But a generous man devises generous things, and by generosity he shall stand.”
Philippians 4:11-13 - Paul discovered the ultimate affluenza vaccine—pursuing the will of God, living in His presence, enjoying the friendship of the Holy Spirit—Living the Blessed Life. “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
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